In a significant move following the ruling party’s disappointing performance in the April 4 local council elections and referendum, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has carried out a major cabinet reshuffle, reducing the number of ministers from 20 to 15.
On April 14, President Muizzu accepted the resignations of 10 cabinet ministers — nearly half the cabinet — and swore in a restructured team with several new faces during a ceremony at the President’s Office.
Why the Reshuffle Happened
The reshuffle comes just ten days after the People’s National Congress (PNC) suffered a notable setback in the local elections. Although the PNC secured a slim majority of total council seats, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) performed strongly in major cities and swept most mayoral positions. Additionally, voters overwhelmingly rejected the government’s proposal to merge presidential and parliamentary elections in the constitutional referendum.
Many political analysts view the cabinet overhaul as damage control and an attempt to reset the government’s image and improve performance ahead of future national elections.
Key Changes in the New Cabinet
The President merged and restructured several ministries to create a leaner and more efficient government. Four new ministers were appointed for the first time:
The newly appointed Ministers and their respective portfolios are as follows:
- Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises – Moosa Zameer
- Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology – Ali Ihusaan
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Iruthisham Adam
- Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development – Dr Ismail Shafeeu
- Minister of Health, Family and Welfare – Geela Ali
- Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade – Mohamed Saeed
- Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments – Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed
- Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation – Mohamed Ameen
- Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness – Abdulla Rafiu
- Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage – Heena Waleed
- Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development – Dr Abdulla Muththalib
- Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy – Ali Shareef
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice, Honourable Uz Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, after which the Ministers signed the declaration of oath.
Notable among the retained senior figures is Moosa Zameer, who continues as Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises. Several other ministers were reassigned to new or merged portfolios.
Government’s Position
The President’s Office described the reshuffle as a step toward “positive government reforms” and greater administrative efficiency. Officials stated that the resignations were submitted voluntarily to allow the President to implement changes aligned with public expectations.
President Muizzu expressed confidence that the new, streamlined cabinet would deliver better results for the people.
Political Reactions
The opposition has welcomed the changes, calling them an admission of failure by the government. They argue that the major reduction in cabinet size reflects the pressure created by the election results.
Supporters of the President, however, maintain that this is a proactive move to strengthen governance and address public concerns more effectively.
Parliament later approved the new cabinet members on April 29, 2026.
This cabinet reshuffle marks one of the most substantial government overhauls since President Muizzu took office and is likely to shape the administration’s direction for the remainder of its term.
